2022 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Stable, Cheap To Run, Italian
The Leoncino 800 is Benelli's strongest argument that its Italian badge can carry real substance. At its heart sits a 754 cc liquid-cooled parallel twin making 75 hp and 49 lb-ft. It's tuned for a broad midrange that builds into a proper rush once the tach passes 6,500 rpm. It hangs in a steel trellis frame with an upside-down fork and a fat 180-section rear tire, and the retro-modern styling looks more expensive than the bike is. The equipment is honest rather than lavish. You get ABS, a slipper clutch, a TFT display and an LED headlight, but no traction control and no ride modes.
On the road it feels planted and grown-up. The 31.7 in (805 mm) seat lets most riders get their feet down, and the upright stance works as well in city traffic as on a Saturday loop. At 489 lb (222 kg) wet it's no featherweight, and you notice that mass when you push hard, which is exactly when the front end gets less communicative. The fork and the rear shock are both adjustable. Ownership has held up well: build quality is better than the price suggests, and corrosion hasn't been a problem. This is a bike for riders who want character and presence without paying premium money.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 75 hp (56 kW) @ 8,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 49 lb-ft (67 Nm) @ 6,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 754 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Seat height | 31.7 in (805 mm) |
| Wet weight | 489 lb (222 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 gal (15 L) |
| Fuel economy | 48 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
This picture comes from years of listening: paddock talk, owner chats on club nights, and the emails and messages riders send me directly. With the Leoncino 800, the pattern is consistent. Owners like how it pulls, shifts and steers. Their complaints center on suspension that gets soft when ridden hard and on equipment that looks thin next to its rivals.
Riders consistently say the twin is flexible enough for commuting and eager when they chase the revs. The six-speed gets almost as much praise. Owners describe clean shifts with a short throw and a slipper clutch that engages lightly and progressively, and several call it a clear step up from the 752S. In corners they point to the wide bar and neutral steering, which make the bike easy to trust. The Pesaro styling and the lion emblem win people over too.
The gripes are fewer and less widespread. Some owners find the fork and rear shock undersprung under hard braking and quick direction changes, and heavier riders notice it most. Others point out there's no quickshifter and say rivals at similar money now fit rider aids as standard.
High-frequency handlebar and footpeg vibration
At constant highway speeds (5000-6000 rpm), excessive vibration travels through the bars and pegs, causing rider discomfort and numbness on longer journeys.
Inconsistent low-speed fueling
Some owners report rough idling and a lean condition at low rpm (around 2000 rpm), while others note rich running and fuel smell after hard riding, indicating possible ECU mapping inconsistencies.
B Box unit parasitic battery drain
The GPS-enabled B Box unit under the seat continues to draw 40-80mA after ignition off, leading to a flat battery if the bike is not ridden for a week. Disconnecting the unit resolves the drain.
Where this Benelli Leoncino 800 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Leoncino 800 is actually built for.
It'll run the Dragon and Cherohala happily, with stable, predictable manners that reward clean lines. Just know that 489 lb and a vague front at the limit make it a relaxed skill-builder, not a scalpel.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
For Angeles Crest weekends it's fun, stable and sounds great. If you're chasing top-tier pace, though, 75 hp will leave you wanting more before the canyon runs out.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
It looks the part at Alice's and handles city commuting and Skyline runs with ease. If it sits all week between rides, disconnect the B Box or keep it on a battery tender.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
